Lucic opened the scoring 10:59 into the first after a Jerome Iginla shot deflected off his skate. He had more of a hand in his second goal, which also came from an Iginla assist. Iginla found Lucic streaking toward the Buffalo net, and the two connected on a tap-in to put Boston up 2-0 just 40 seconds into the second period.

The teams took turns scoring goals in the second period, and the Bruins held a 3-2 lead at the second intermission.

Krug gave the Bruins some breathing room 4:17 into the third period when he outmuscled Sabres forward Drew Stafford and slid the puck between Miller's legs. The goal gave Boston a 4-2 lead, and Krug increased the advantage to 5-2 five minutes later on a snap shot from the left circle.

The game took an ugly turn six minutes into the third when Boston winger Loui Eriksson was injured after receiving a hit to the head from Buffalo enforcer John Scott. Eriksson was helped to the Boston locker room following the hit and did not return. Scott received a match penalty for a head shot.

The Sabres fought back in the second period with two goals.

Zadorov cut Boston's lead to one with just under five minutes left in the second on his first NHL goal. The impressive teenager cut through the right circle, skated around Boston winger Carl Soderberg and put a nifty backhand past Johnson. The goal came in just his second NHL game.

Hodgson opened the scoring for Buffalo with a rare Sabres power-play goal. Hodgson redirected a Thomas Vanek pass for his third of the season. Heading into the game, Buffalo ranked 29th in the NHL with the man advantage.

Hamilton scored Boston's third goal on an odd-man rush 11:50 into the second. Hamilton placed a wrist shot high above the sprawling Miller on a feed from Brad Marchand.Notes: The Bruins' scratches were RW Jordan Caron and D Matt Bartkowski. ... The Sabres scratched D Jamie McBain, RW Patrick Kaleta (suspension) and D Rasmus Ristolainen. ... Buffalo C Cody McCormick missed the game after being placed on injured reserve Tuesday due to a lower-body ailment. ... Bruins LW Daniel Paille was with the Sabres organization from 2002-09. He was selected in the first round (20th overall) by the Sabres in 2002. ... The Bruins began their first of 17 sets of back-to-back games this season. They will return to Boston to play the San Jose Sharks tonight. ... This Sabres play the Panthers in Florida on Friday.